Don’t expect to see West Texas A&M line up in the “heavy jumbo” offense on a regular basis — and don’t expect the Buffs to find their version of a Rob Gronkowski or Jason Witten right away — but don’t be surprised to see a legitimate tight end in WT’s air-it-out spread offense this season.

The Buffs are not going away from their bread and butter — a spread offense with four receivers that ranked second in the nation in 2011 at 358 passing yards per game and has routinely ranked among the top passing offenses in the country since Don Carthel became head coach in 2005.

However, the Buffs are tinkering with adding a traditional tight end with blocking and pass-catching responsibilities, and not just a slot receiver.

It is just another offensive wrinkle for the Buffs.

“I don’t think the average fan will notice (the addition of a traditional tight end),” said first-year Buffs offensive coordinator Stephen Lee, who was WT’s quarterbacks coach last season. “We’re going to try to incorporate the tight end with the same concepts we’ve always done.

“There’s been a longtime formula for success here with Coach Carthel, and I don’t think there’s any reason to change something that is working. I do think you have to evolve and change, but we won’t change a whole lot.”

The Buffs are hopeful a traditional tight end will help the running game, especially with the return of running back Khiry Robinson, a strong, physical inside runner who led WT with 669 yards rushing and averaged more than six yards per carry in 2011.

“It is to help the running game. I’m a believer in it,” Lee said. “We’re still going to throw it the way we’ve been throwing it. There is no reason to change what has worked here. I think it is a different look here and there.”

“If you’re football savvy, you might notice a difference, but we’re really just trying to throw some different things at defenses that they haven’t seen before,” said WT quarterback Dustin Vaughan, who threw for 3,316 yards as a first-year starter in 2011. “I think it is going to be a positive thing for our offense.”

At the start of fall practice, the Buffs have three tight end candidates — junior Trevor Hammargren, junior Jace Jackson and sophomore Zach White.

Only Hammargren has seen significant playing time with 17 catches for 188 yards in 10 games at slot receiver last season.

“We’re going to be doing a little bit of both, blocking and catching passes,” said Hammargren, a 6-foot, 170-pounder from Aztec, N.M. “It will be different lining up in a different spot, but it should be about the same once I get out into my route. It should be a lot of fun, actually.”

Notes: Preseason updates on Buffs now in the NFL — Offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb of the Chicago Bears was on the field for 41 of 49 offensive plays in a 31-3 loss Thursday to Denver, but could be facing competition for his starting job from former first-round pick Chris Williams ... Chicago WR Brittan Golden had two catches for 14 yards against Denver ... Minnesota Vikings WR Stephen Burton had one catch for 52 yards in a 17-6 loss Friday to San Francisco. Burton started at split end in place of Percy Harvin ... Seattle Seahawks WR Charly Martin seems to have survived the signing of Terrell Owens, at least for now. Seattle played Tennessee in its preseason opener Saturday ... Houston Texans LB Bryan Braman is second on the depth chart at strongside linebacker. Houston played Carolina in a preseason opener Saturday ... Washington Redskins WR Anthony Armstrong is nursing an injured shoulder ... Former LSU QB Jarrett Lee of the San Diego Chargers, son of WT offensive coordinator Stephen Lee, was 15-of-22 for 235 yards with a touchdown and a pick in a 21-13 preseason win over Green Bay Thursday.